Please Help Stock My Tank

[brian2708]

Hi there. As you may know we're currently carrying out a fishless cycle in our 63l Juwel Aquarium. The equipment is as follows:

Juwel Aquarium 63l (16.2US gallon)
280l/hr (over 4 times) Internal Filtration
100w Heater
15w T5 Lighting
Dorset Gravel Substrate
Low to Medium planted, with bogwood and stone.

There will be 4 Black tetra's and 2 gold tetras (these 2 species shoal well) going in as they are being removed from my main tank so I still have quite a lot of room to play with.

We would like some livebearers as we want to breed something. We originally thought about several guppys, however, now we're looking at platys. What do you guys think, and how many should we have?

I was wanting some bottom feeder aswell however unsure whether 63l (16.2us gallon) is too small for a shoal of pygmy corys (say 6). If not these, then what's a suitable alternative? Rest assured, if we did go with corys, the substrate would be changed for sand.

I'm not really that keen on shrimp, or loaches of any kind.

Any other ideas? Help is greatfully appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[lilfishie]

Pygmy cories would be fine in your tank, i have a group of 13 in my 60l to really enjoy these fish you need ideally 10+

i would only start with a trio of platies either 1 male 2 females or 3 females chances are they would already be pregnant when you brought them

 

[KittyKat]

* 6 black tetras
* 6 gold tetras
* 6 dwarf or pygmy Corys
* 2 female platys from a tank where they have been kept with males

Be careful, the livebearers may easily breed out of control.

 

[brian2708]

Hi, with those stocking numbers you mentioned, would I be able to up the number or corys to 10?

Thanks

 

[minnnt]

sunset or sunrise platy

I would stick with 6 of the corys and see how the tank looks when stocked. Then decide if you have the space for 4 more.

 

[KittyKat]

I would also start with that stock and then see if I "feel" that it can take more after about 3-6 months.